hands on science
contributing to scientific knowlege
Welcome. This is a big round up of ways that real school students, young and old, have contributed something to real scientific knowledge.
On the list of sections below we've indicated which are more relevant to primary and which to secondary, or both, with P and S.
We have given you a flavour of content on the web pages linked from this page, and provided much more detail in the printable PDFs.
You can print off, or look online at, just the section you are interested in or the whole booklet with all the sections.
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Life Beyond The Classroom Practical…
In November 2005, NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts: www.nesta.org.uk) launched the Real Science report. The report said what many other organisations, science teachers, and students had also been saying and thinking: "we need more ‘real science’ in our school science lessons."
So it seemed like a helpful thing to do to show examples of situations where students and their science teachers had actually contributed to the body of scientific knowledge, in other words, helped practising scientists with their research. What better way to show science in action, and encourage students to feel as if they are part of the bigger scientific picture?
We’ve searched high and low, and come up with a wide variety of schemes, organisations and individuals that schools can buddy up with to give students a taste of what real science is all about. There are mass participation events, brilliant school student inventions and even getting young scientists’ opinions heard by the Government. Students have so much fun doing real science, they often don’t realise the benefits they can reap as a result: prizes (for themselves and the school), university placements, work experience, publications and something snazzy for their CV.
So, whether you’re a newly qualified teacher or practically part of the lab furniture – here is how to get your hands on some real science.
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real science
You might want to get in touch with your local university to see whether you can work together (and the Royal Society's Grants Scheme might help you do this). Alternatively you could look for local environmental or wildlife organisations to partner with, or ask your local SETpoint for suggestions, or ask your students whether any of them have science-flavoured parents. Whatever you do, good luck and… Keep it Real.
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